Former Wiltshire Gazette and Herald reporter Sarah Singleton is gearing up for more success with the publication of her fourth novel.

Sarah Singleton

Sarah, from Chippenham, was awarded the Booktrust Teen Prize and the Dracula Society’s Children of the Night Award for her first young adult novel, Century, in 2005.

It was also highly commended for the Branford Boase first novel award in 2006 and shortlisted for the Birmingham Book Award in 2007.

Now she is hoping that her new novel, The Amethyst Child, out on May 6, will be just as successful.

The story follows 15-year-old Amber during her summer holiday when she is drawn into the secret world of a stranger called Dowdie and a commune known as The Community.

Amber finds herself entering a world of dark and dangerous secrets, which can only end in death and disillusionment.

Sarah, who works as a freelance journalist, has received rave reviews from the national press for her latest adventure.

The Independent said: “Sarah Singleton is becoming a major novelist in the teenage fiction scene, with The Amethyst Child her best achievement yet… thoughtful and gripping.”

The Times also hailed her as an author to watch.

Following the latest launch, she will be signing her books in the Chippenham branch of Waterstones at the end of this month.

She said: “It has become a bit of a family event at the local signings with a shop full of Singletons and friends and family.

“The novelty never wears off. I still get excited when I see a copy on the shelves in the shops.

“My children are my biggest critics, they are brutally honest,” she said.

Sarah has already finished her next book, The Poison Garden, which is due to be published in 2009, and is then contracted to write one more book with publisher Simon & Schuster, including a novel aimed at adults.

Gazette editor Gary Lawrence said: “We are all very proud of what Sarah has achieved. She worked for us for seven years and in that time developed, wrote and published her first two novels.

“She puts those of use who go home and slump in front of The Apprentice to shame.

“I am expecting the villain of one of her stories to be called Larry Gawrence any time now.”

The Amethyst Child is out in paperback, priced £6.99.